View source for Airspeed Consul

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = AS.65 Consul
  |image = Airspeed Consul G-AIDX at Manchester 1954.jpg
  |caption = Airspeed Consul G-AIDX of Esso Petroleum at Manchester in 1954
  |type = Utility transport
  |manufacturer = [[Airspeed Ltd|Airspeed Limited]]
  |designer =  
  |first_flight = 1946
  |introduction = 
  |retired = 
  |status = Out of production, out of service
  |primary_user = [[Israeli Air Force|Israeli Defence Force Air Force]] 
  |more_users = [[Argentine Air Force]] <br/> [[Union of Burma Air Force]] <br/> [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] <!--up to three more. please separate with <br/>.-->
  |produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
  |number_built = 162<ref name="stroud p67"/><ref name="Jacksonv1 p396"/>
  |unit cost = £5,500<ref name = "taylor 135"/>
  |developed_from = [[Airspeed Oxford]]
  |variants = 
}}

The '''Airspeed Consul''' is a twin-engined light transport aircraft and affordable [[airliner]] designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer [[Airspeed Ltd|Airspeed Limited]]. Introduced during the immediate [[post-war]] period, it was a straightforward conversion of surplus [[Airspeed Oxford]] military trainers that had been extensively used during the [[Second World War]].

Early on in the conflict, Airspeed's management recognised that the vast numbers of Oxfords then in military service would need a new purpose as an inevitable consequence of demobilisation greatly reducing military demand for the type. Upon the war's end, the company acquired numerous Oxfords from the British government and begun converting the type for the needs of civilian customers. The first aircraft, ''G-AGVY'', was [[Airworthiness certificate|certified]] for operations in March 1946; a further 50 aircraft would be converted over the following months.

The Consul was developed into various models, each being typically suited for a particular role, such as an [[air ambulance]], [[Cargo aircraft|freighter]], [[business aircraft|executive transport]], and airliner. Airspeed marketed the type particularly heavily towards private owner-pilots and businesses, the latter being an atypical choice for the era. A number were also produced with armaments, having been militarised and exported to multiple overseas air forces. By the end of production, 162 Consuls had been produced.

==Development==
===Background===
During the first half of the 1930s, the British aircraft manufacturer [[Airspeed Ltd|Airspeed Limited]] produced the [[Airspeed Envoy|Envoy]], an eight-seat civil transport that also promptly attracted the attention of military operators. Accordingly, during the late 1930s, a militarised derivative of the Envoy, known as the [[Airspeed Oxford|Oxford]], was developed and introduced, being primarily used as a [[trainer aircraft]]. The Oxford was used in vast numbers by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) in addition to several other air forces, forming a key element of the [[British Commonwealth Air Training Plan]]; a total of 8,586 were produced.<ref name="stroud p67">Stroud ''Aeroplane Monthly'' July 1995, p. 67.</ref><ref name="aerojun80 p323-4">Middleton ''Aeroplane Monthly'' June 1980, pp. 323–324.</ref>

As early as 1940, Airspeed's management were considering the future [[postwar]] era and the fate of the large numbers of Oxfords that the company was mass-producing at that time; recognising that military demands would be curtailed, it was thus sensible for surplus aircraft to be converted for use by civilian operators instead.<ref name = "taylor 134">Taylor 1970, p. 134.</ref> It was recognised that an affordable general purpose twin-engined transport aircraft, suitable for use as an [[airliner]], would likely appeal to such operators. Having planned in advance of the conflict's end, following [[Victory in Europe Day]], Airspeed quickly negotiated to buy back Oxfords from the British government, arranging the purchase of not only complete aircraft but also partially-assembled examples that were in progress at various factories.<ref name = "taylor 1345">Taylor 1970, pp. 134-135.</ref>

The conversion process commenced immediately upon acquisition, with the first aircraft, ''G-AGVY'', being certified for operations in March 1946 and sold to a private operator shortly thereafter.<ref name = "taylor 1345"/> Due to it being a relatively straightforward conversion of an existing aircraft with only minor modifications being made, securing civil [[Airworthiness certificate|airworthiness certification]] was both quick and easy. The type was assigned the name ''Consul''.<ref name = "taylor 135"/> In addition to targeting airlines, Airspeed believed there was a viable market for the type amongst private owner-pilots, as there had been for such aircraft during the [[interwar period]]. Furthermore, there was an intention focus on marketing the aircraft towards [[business]] purposes, a direction which aviation author H. A. Taylor observed to be a particularly innovative approach for the era.<ref name = "taylor 135">Taylor 1970, p. 135.</ref>

===Launch===
From 1946, 162 Oxfords{{#tag:ref|161 Consuls were sold by Airspeed,<ref name="stroud p67"/> with the second prototype, ''G-AEHF'' retained by Airspeed.<ref name="Jacksonv1 p396">Jackson 1974, p. 396.</ref>|group=lower-alpha}} were refurbished by Airspeed and adapted for civilian use at the firm's facility in Portsmouth. Of these, 50 alone were produced between May and October 1946.<ref name = "taylor 137"/> Structural alterations involved in the conversion included cut-outs to add an extra pair of windows on either side of the fuselage, the installation of an elongated nose that functioned as a forward compartment for storing [[baggage]], and the addition of a partition wall between the cockpit and the cabin areas. The tail plane was also adjusted to account for the changed [[centre of gravity]] resulting from these other modifications, which also increased the aircraft's fore-and-aft stability.<ref name = "taylor 137"/>

The Consul was a relatively affordable endeavour as surplus Oxfords were both common and inexpensive to acquire.<ref name="stroud p67"/> It proved to be superficially attractive as a small twin-engine airliner, and Airspeed promptly offered a conversion kit for this specific purpose. In a charter configuration, the Consul's cabin would be typically outfitted with five seats, although the addition of a sixth seat was possible.<ref name = "taylor 137"/> The cabin furnishings consisted of detachable carpets, leather upholstery, and fabric trimmings of various colours. In the cockpit, the radio operator would be seated alongside the pilot in the former instructor's position.<ref name = "taylor 1378">Taylor 1970, pp. 137-138.</ref>

Multiple variants of the Consul were developed by Airspeed, often to suit particular niche roles of the market.<ref name = "taylor 138"/> One such model, intended for use as an [[air ambulance]], featured a large upwards-opening door and could accommodate a pair of stretcher-bound patients along with one or two seated patients. A convertible model featured the same large door, which was intended to be alternatively used as a freighter and communications purposes.<ref name = "taylor 138">Taylor 1970, p. 138.</ref> A specialised executive transport was also produced, its cabin accommodating up to four seated passengers along with a [[Aircraft lavatory|lavatory]] and additional space for luggage. Somewhat paradoxically, a militarised reconversion was also devised; this model was armed with two forward-firing [[.303 British|.303]] machine guns, up to eight 25lb [[rocket]]s, and a single rear-facing [[Gun turret#Aircraft|turret]].<ref name = "taylor 1389">Taylor 1970, pp. 138-139.</ref>

==Operational history==
[[File:Airspeed AS.65 Consul EI-ADC Rianta LPL 26.03.49 edited-2.jpg|thumb|right|Airspeed Consul of [[Aer Lingus]] at [[Liverpool Airport|Liverpool]] in 1949]]
The Consul saw service with numerous small scheduled and charter airlines as feeder liners in Great Britain, and also Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, [[East Africa]] and Canada, and was the first type operated by [[Malayan Airways]], the predecessor of [[Singapore Airlines]] and [[Malaysia Airlines]].<ref name = "taylor 1424">Taylor 1970, pp. 142-144.</ref>

Various owners emerged for individual aircraft.<ref name = "taylor 1445">Taylor 1970, pp. 144-145.</ref> A number were acquired for training purposes. Several Consuls were operated as [[business aircraft|executive transport]]s by a number of large industrial companies.<ref name = "taylor 144">Taylor 1970, p. 144.</ref>

However, the aircraft's wooden construction, heavy wartime use, somewhat tricky handling and small capacity typically counted against their long term use. Many of the 'civil' conversions were bought by military users; and the Consul served as a VIP transport with the air forces of Britain, Canada and New Zealand, all of whom already operated Oxfords. During 1949, the [[Israeli Air Force]] purchased a number of civil Consuls and re-converted them to military trainers. They were used by 141 Squadron until 1957, a year after the Oxford was retired by the Royal Air Force.

By 1960, there were at least nine Consuls known to be in operation worldwide.<ref name = "taylor 137">Taylor 1970, p. 137.</ref> According to Taylor, it had a relatively good safety record, although the loss of five of the first ten Consuls was particularly unfortunant. Furthermore, the aircraft is believed to be Airspeed's only civil transport to achieve financial success.<ref name = "taylor 139">Taylor 1970, p. 139.</ref>

While several Oxfords survive, the Consul has not been so fortunate. G-AIKR, a former children's playground attraction, is owned by the [[Canada Aviation Museum]]; it is on loan to the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum]], where it is being returned to Oxford status. As of 2003, Consul VR-SCD was known to exist in [[Singapore]], stored in pieces.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==Operators==

===Civil operators===
[[File:24081987.jpg|thumb|right|A Consul which has been cosmetically restored to represent an example previously operated by [[Malayan Airways]] and is now preserved in Singapore]]
*The aircraft was used by companies, individuals and air charter companies and the following:
;{{flag|Burma|1948}}
*[[Union of Burma Airways]] – four aircraft delivered in 1947<ref name="ab" />
;{{ISL}}
*[[Loftleidir]] – one aircraft delivered in January 1951, fatal crash in April 1951<ref name="ab" />
;{{IND}}
*Airways (India) – two aircraft delivered in 1947 <ref name="ab" />
;{{IRL}}
*[[Aer Lingus]] – two aircraft delivered in 1947<ref name="ab" />
;{{ISR}}
*[[El Al]] – one delivered in 1953 for crew training.<ref name="ab" />
;{{ITA}}
*Soc Transports Aerei Mediterranei (STAM) – three aircraft delivered 1955–56<ref name="ab" />
;{{flag|Jordan}}
*Arab Airways Association – one aircraft loaned in 1951<ref name="ab" />
*Air Jordan – seven aircraft from 1950 to 1951<ref name="ab" />
;{{flag|Malaya}}
* [[Malayan Airways]] – three aircraft delivered in 1947<ref name="ab" />
;{{KEN}}
*[[East African Airways]] – one aircraft delivered in 1954<ref name="ab" />
;{{MLT}}
*[[Air Malta]]<ref name="ab" />
*[[Malta Airways]]<ref name="ab" />
;{{flagcountry|Union of South Africa}}
* Commercial Air Services – one aircraft delivered in 1949.<ref name="ab" />
* [[Natal Airlines]] – four aircraft delivered in 1955.<ref name="ab" />
* Silver Flight – one aircraft delivered in 1947.<ref name="ab" />
;{{flag|Spain}}
*[[Iberia]] – three aircraft first delivery in 1952.<ref name="ab" />
;{{SWE}}
*[[Aero Nord Sweden]] – one aircraft from Aeropropaganda in 1953.<ref name="ab" />
*[[Aeropropaganda]] – two aircraft delivered 1950–51.<ref name="ab" />
*[[Nordisk Air Transport]] – one aircraft delivered in 1951.<ref name="ab" />
*[[Transair Sweden]] – one aircraft from Nordisk Air Transport in 1951.<ref name="ab" />
;{{flag|Tanganyika}}
*[[United Air Services]] – three aircraft delivered 1947–48.<ref name="ab" />
;{{UK}}
[[File:Airspeed Consul G-AHZV at Manchester 1950.jpg|thumb|right|Airspeed Consul of [[Lancashire Aircraft Corporation]] at Manchester in 1950 on scheduled service to [[Northolt Aerodrome|London (Northolt)]]]]
*[[Air Charter Limited|Air Charter]]
*Air Enterprises – seven aircraft based at Croydon Airport.<ref name="Jackson30" />
*[[Air Kruise]]<ref name="ab" />
*Airspan Travel
*Atlas Aviation – four aircraft based at Elstree.<ref name="Jackson30">Jackson 1973, pp.30–33</ref>
*Britavia<ref name="ab" />
*British Air Transport<ref name="ab">Hamlin 2001, pp. 262–285</ref>
*British Aviation Services – four aircraft based at Blackbushe Airport.<ref name="Jackson30" />
*[[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC Training Flight)<ref name="ab" />
*[[British South American Airways]]<ref name="ab" />
*[[Cambrian Airways]]<ref name="ab" />
*Chartair<ref name="ab" />
*Guernsey Air Charter<ref name="ab" />
*Hornton Airways – three aircraft based at Gatwick Airport.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="Jackson30" />
*International Airways<ref name="ab" />
*[[Lancashire Aircraft Corporation]]<ref name="ab" />
*Mercury Air Services<ref name="ab" />
*[[Ministry of Civil Aviation (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]] Flying Unit for radio aids calibration, trials and pilot testing.<ref name="Jackson30" />
*[[Ministry of Supply]] for engine trials by [[Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd|Alvis]]
*[[Morton Air Services]]<ref name="ab" />
*Northern Air Charter<ref name="ab" />
*[[Olley Air Services]]<ref name="ab" />
*Patrick Laing Air Services<ref name="ab" />
*Portsmouth Aviation<ref name="ab" />
*Pullman Airways<ref name="ab" />
*[[Silver City Airways]]<ref name="ab" />
*Scottish Aviation<ref name="ab" />
*Solar Air Services
*Southern Airways<ref name="ab" />
*Stiener Air Services – six aircraft based at Speke Airport<ref name="ab" /><ref name="Jackson30" />
*Transcontinental Air Services<ref name="ab" />
*Transair Ltd – five aircraft based at Croydon Airport.<ref name="ab" />
*[[Westminster Airways]] – seven aircraft based at Elstree.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="Jackson30" />
;{{flag|United Nations}} 
*Five aircraft leased to the United Nations Commission in Israel between 1947 and 1949.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="Jackson30" />

===Military operators===
;{{ARG}}
* [[Argentine Air Force]] – ten aircraft delivered in 1947.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gacetaeronautica.com/gaceta/wp-101/?p=5991 |title=Catálogo Ilustrado de Aeronaves de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina |last1=Ay |first1=Carlos |language=es |date=15 August 2013 |website=Gaceta Aeronautica |access-date=31 May 2014 }}</ref><ref name="ab2">Hamlin 2001, pp. 246–259.</ref>
; {{flag|Belgian Congo}}
* [[Force publique]] – six aircraft delivered in 1949.<ref name="ab2" />
; {{flag|Burma|1948}}
* [[Union of Burma Air Force]] – nine aircraft from 1949 to 1950.<ref name="ab2" />
; {{ISR}}
* [[Israeli Air Force|Israeli Defence Force Air Force]] – eleven aircraft from 1949 to 1959.<ref name="ab2" />
; {{NZL}}
* [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] – six conversions by De Havilland Aircraft of New Zealand in early 1950s.<ref name="ab3">Hamlin 2001, pp. 225–233</ref>
; {{TUR}}
* [[Turkish Air Force]] – two VIP aircraft from 1946 used by the Transport Liaison Group.<ref name="ab2" />

==Accidents and incidents==
* 29 April 1947 – ''G-AIOZ'' of Milburnair Limited crashed at Botley Hill, Limpsfield on approach to Croydon Airport, two killed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
*27 February 1948 - G-AJGE, of Pullman Airways Limited, lost at sea in the Gulf of Sidra off North Africa during a charter flight from Nairobi to London. Five killed.
* 11 February 1949 –  the first Consul conversion ''G-AGVY'' of Air Enterprises crashed at Jezzin, Lebanon while on charter to the United Nations, two onboard killed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
* 15 June 1950 – ''UB340'' of the Union of Burma Air Force was on a demonstration flight when a rocket exploded under the wing killing the Burmese Chief of Air Staff.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
* 12 April 1951 – ''TF-RPM'' of Flugferdir H/F crashed at Howden Moor, Yorkshire, England on a flight from Croydon to Iceland, three killed.
* 11 December 1951 – ''NZ1902'' of the Royal New Zealand Air Force crashed on Mount Ruapehu.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
* 14 June 1952 – ''G-AHFT'' of Morton Air Services ditched in the English Channel following an engine failure, six killed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==Specifications==

{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''British Civil Aircraft since 1919'',<ref name="Jackson v1p33">Jackson 1973, p. 33.</ref> ''Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1947''<ref name=JAWA1947>{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1947 |edition=35th |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1947 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co |location=London |pages=10c–11c}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew= 1
|capacity= six passengers
|length ft= 35
|length in= 4
|length note=
|span ft= 53
|span in= 4
|span note=
|height ft= 10
|height in= 1.5
|height note=
|wing area sqft= 348
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb= 6,047
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb= 8,250
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{cvt|156|impgal|USgal l|0}} in 4 wing tanks; {{cvt|17|impgal|USgal l|0}}
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number= 2
|eng1 name= [[Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah 10]]
|eng1 type= seven cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines
|eng1 hp= 395
|eng1 note= at 2,425 rpm at {{cvt|4300|ft|0}}, with {{cvt|2.25|psi|2}} boost

|prop blade number= 2
|prop name= [[Fairey-Reed]] fixed-pitch metal propellers
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph= 190
|max speed note= at {{cvt|4800|ft|0}}
|cruise speed mph= 163
|cruise speed note= maximum weak mixture
|stall speed mph= 64
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles= 900
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft= 19,000
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin= 1,070
|climb rate note= at sea level
|time to altitude={{cvt|10000|ft|0}} in 10 minutes
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft= 23.1
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.096|hp/lb}}
*'''Fuel consumption:''' < {{cvt|30|impgal/h|USgal/h l/h|0}}

|more performance=<br/>
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|66|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt|1725|ft|0}} in {{cvt|5|mph|kn km/h|0}} wind
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt|825|ft|0}}
|avionics=
:*Standard Telephones STR11/16
:or
:*STR 9 radio
:*Decca Navigator (optional)
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
* [[Airspeed Envoy|Airspeed AS.6 Envoy]]
* [[Airspeed Viceroy|Airspeed AS.8 Viceroy (one-off racing special)]]
* [[Airspeed Oxford]]

|similar aircraft=
* [[Avro Anson]]

}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite journal |last1=Aloni|first1=Shlomo|title=Turtles and the Cheetahs |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 2001|issue=92|pages=44–49 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Elliott|first1=Bryn|title=On the Beat: The First 60 Years of Britain's Air Police |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=January–February 1999 |issue=79 |pages=68–75 |issn=0143-5450}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Ford|first1=Daniel|title=Oxford Graduate: Airspeed's Consul–New Life for the 'Oxbox' |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=September–October 1996 |issue=65 |pages=58–63 |issn=0143-5450}}
* {{cite book |last=Hamlin |first=John F |title=The Oxford, Consul & Envoy File |year=2001 |publisher=[[Air-Britain]] |location=Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England |isbn=0-85130-2890}}
* {{cite book |last= Jackson |first= A. J. |title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1 |year= 1973 |publisher= Putnam |location= London |isbn=0-370-10006-9}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Middleton |first=Don |title=RAF Piston Trainers No. 9: Airspeed Oxford Part 2 |magazine=Aeroplane Monthly |date=June 1980 |volume= 8 |issue= 6 |pages=322–327}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Stroud |first=John |title=Post War Propliners: Airspeed Consul |magazine=[[Aeroplane Monthly]] |date=July 1995 |volume= 23 |issue= 7 |pages=66–69 |issn=0143-7240}}
* {{cite book |last=Taylor, H. A |title=Airspeed Aircraft since 1931 |location=London |publisher=Putnam |year=1970 |isbn=0370001109 }}

{{Airspeed aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Airspeed aircraft|Consul]]
[[Category:1940s British airliners]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1946]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]